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Character analysis of Iago
How is iago the main character in othello
How is iago the main character in othello
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The love Barbantio had for Othello illustrates his integrity and trustworthiness, which are the contrasting characteristics of a stereotypical black man. However, even under the shadow of his label, the moor, Othello, holds a higher status uncommon for a black man in the 17th century. By having an audience such as a "pilot...", a "senate...", and a "mayor..." Othello held a rank higher than that of a white man, allowing him to promote or take away a white man's status. Upon his demotion, Iago declares in a pompous and violent tone, "I know my price!" Expressing his superiority, Iago undermines Othello's status as his general, highlighting the perspective of the colored in the 17th century as inferior.
In the beginning of the novel, Shakespeare describes Iago as a mastermind of manipulating others. Iago holds a grudge and resentment towards the Moor, Othello, because another soldier, lieutenant Cassio, has been promoted
Othello is preoccupied with his race but still manages to take advantage of Iago’s class. Iago preoccupied with his class, still manages to take advantage of Othello’s race. Despite doing no harm to Othello and Iago directly, Cassio destroys both of the men’s marriages and in turn
Savagery in Othello and Lord of The Flies In all of us lies savagery; vile and animalistic impulses, typically brought out by extreme circumstance. This truth is the essence of Othello by William Shakespeare and Lord Of The Flies by William Golding. Othello focuses on the character Iago’s manipulation of Othello, a Venetian general. He believes that Othello had an affair with his wife Emilia, and feels resentful toward him for choosing Cassio instead of him as lieutenant, when he is clearly more experienced.
In line 426, Iago states in his soliloquy, “I hate the Moor;” However, Iago proceeds to have various lines and soliloquies where he reveals his true motives against Othello to the audience. Iago refers to Othello throughout the play with derogatory terms like “Barbary horse,” an “old black ram,” an “erring barbarian,” and “thick-lips.” Iago purposely identifies Othello strictly by his race; he will not refer to him as an individual or even as his general rank. Iago also strictly uses animalistic characteristics and names to refer to Othello, making him seem less human-like to himself, as Iago craves to feel power over Othello due to his race. One of these examples includes lines 97 to 101, when Iago states, “Even now, now, very now, an old black ram is tupping your white ewe.
While reading othello we got a sense of each and every character and figured out their true colors. In act 3 Iago; othello's right hand man starts playing Othello for a fool. Iago knows the only way to get to othello is to hit him where it hurts and that's by targeting Desdemona. In act 3 sc.3 line (105) Iago asks one simple question that sparks a reaction to Othello “Did Michael Cassio, when you wooed ,my lady know of your love. ”Iago then ties this question with his “thoughts” so Othello can begin to build curiosity about the thought.
Iago says this in his soliloquy. Iago states in this quote that it is a rumour across that Othello has been sleeping with his wife. Iago goes on to say that he is not sure if it is true but he will act like it is. Iago is clearly a man who get jealous very easily. Iago does not even know for sure whether or not Othello did sleep with his wife but Iago is going to act as if it is.
By Iago’s own admission “I play the villain” (Shakespeare, 1310), and his internal feelings of evil are well founded as shown through his destruction of the lives of nearly everyone in the play, but he has his reasoning. Iago has grown up as a privileged white Christian male in a society that favors white Christian males and, notably, has the favor of at least three senators who would have been quite influential in Venetian society (Kiernan, Print). The catalyst for all this is the admission of Cassio to the position of second in command, which Iago had too been vying for. Iago believes this is taken from him by a Black, possibly Muslim, man, Othello. Thereby allowing Iago to use what influence and power he has retained to ruin Othello’s life and power dynamic.
Iago uses very clever methods of persuasion and manipulation aimed to use Othello’s hamartia against him, pointing out that “ “She (Desdemona) did deceive her father, marrying you,” so much so that Brabantio “thought ’twas witchcraft”. Through this, Iago is subtly raising the issues of Othello’s cultural differences with Desdemona; a root cause behind Othello’s insecurities with his wife – along with inadequacy due to race, degree of sophistication and age. As Iago prompts Othello to think the worst, his utterances are short and uneasy, revealing the beginning to his downfall, whilst Iago’s dialogue is at length highlighting his growing power of
He expresses his jealousy for Cassio when he says that Othello “already chose [his] officer” who he calls “One Michael Cassio, a Florentine” who “never set a squadron in the field.” Iago believes he should have gotten the promotion because he had more military experience and training. After he gets Cassio drunk and dismissed from service, he devises a plan to manipulate Othello into believing he is cheating with Desdemona in order that Cassio never gets his position again or even killed. Iago also hears a rumor that Othello slept with his
(III.iii.230-234). Thus he reminded Othello that possibly he was not considered suitable for her love. Knowing that his blackness placed him in society as an outsider, Othello began to suspect that his personality and accomplishments could never overcome his inferior background. He questioned his confidence in the reputation and social standing he thought he had gained, and he failed to notice the presence of evil and dishonesty in others. Iago’s appearance, as a
In the opening act of the play, Iago and Roderigo wake Brabantio, Desdemona’s father, from his sleep, informing him of his daughter’s marriage to the Moor, Othello. Knowing of Brabantio’s prejudice towards Othello because of his race, Iago says, “Even now, now, very now, an old black ram is tupping your white ewe.” (1.1.94-95). Iago feeds anger into Brabantio’s mind using
Throughout the play, Iago, Roderigo, and Brabantio display covert or overt racism towards Othello. At the beginning of the play, Iago, Othello’s ensign, and Roderigo, a wealthy man in love with Desdemona, discuss Othello’s marriage and their hatred for Othello. During their dialogue, the first references made of Othello are “his Moorship” and “the Moor,” which is how most of the characters refer to Othello (Shakespeare 687). Rather than referring to Othello nominally, they refer to him by his ethnicity, showing their inherent racism.
The exploitation of Othello’s race leads to the manipulation Roderigo, Cassio, Brabantio, the Venetians, and the audience to see Othello as inferior although, the only difference between him and the Venetians is his lineage. In the first act of the play, Iago and Roderigo go to Brabantio’s house to rile him out of his sleep. This is seen as the first step of defaming Othello’s character. The two
Iago’s powerfully disruptive insinuations torment Othello to fall precipitously into his intricate trap, believing in the prospect of Cassio and Desdemona’s fictitious affair. Through the use of linguistic techniques such as elliptical speech, subservient vocative choices and a hesitant tone, Iago is able to construct artful innuendoes to deceive and manipulate Othello. Supplementary to linguistic techniques, dramatic techniques such as dramatic irony reinforces Iago’s role as a two-faced villain, who is making a pretence of being Othello’s loyal ensign. Eventually, Iago’s villainy nature sows a seed of doubt in Othello that germinates into the murder of Desdemona. Through the characterisation of Iago as a notorious villain, Shakespeare is able to hold Iago’s actions accountable for the play’s tragic downfall, establishing a sense of powerlessness amongst the
